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traditional coming-out when she turned sixteen, but Faith was anything but traditional.”
    Being so close to her family, and knowing what Ari had gone through when Zoe’d had to fake her disappearance, she could empathize with his pain over his sister.
    She squeezed his hand tight. “I really am sorry.” And she was, despite that he might want to take Sam away. “So your folks must be thrilled that you’ve found Sam.” Her voice caught in her throat, this time at her pain over the fear of losing someone.
    â€œMy family is adjusting to the news,” he said vaguely. “So how do you care for a pig?”
    A not-so-subtle change of subject and Zoe made a mental note to mention it to Quinn and Connor during their meeting tomorrow morning. Planning the discussion at the office seemed like an even better idea now, since she didn’t want to run the risk of Sam or anyone else in the family overhearing. And now that she’d found out some more information on Ryan Baldwin, she decided to play along with his topic change.
    â€œYou can feed and train the pig like any other domestic animal. Don’t you read the papers? George Clooney has one and he loves that animal more than any woman he’s met yet. Want to go meet Ima?” she asked.
    â€œIma Pig,” he said and shuddered. “No thanks. I’ll avoid it for now.”
    â€œChicken.” Zoe grinned. “So where are you staying?”
    â€œTrump Plaza.”
    â€œAll the way in Atlantic City?” she asked. With their house right by the beach, there were a number of small, but nice hotels and motels closer to Ocean Isle.
    â€œIt’s only twenty minutes according to AAA.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess. A motel close by never even crossed your highfalutin mind.”
    He opened his mouth to speak, then shook his head. “Never mind. You already seem to have my number.”
    â€œThat I do, Mr. Baldwin. Just tell me that you’re going to honor our deal.” Because she had no choice but to trust him.
    Trust that he wouldn’t go to Social Services and announce his status as Sam’s uncle. Trust that he wouldn’t tell her parents and completely freak them out, sending them into a tailspin and likely triggering a reaction she didn’t even want to imagine. And worse, she had to trust that he wouldn’t tell Sam.
    Zoe swallowed hard.
    This time he squeezed her hand tight. She’d grown so comfortable, she’d forgotten they were still standing that way.
    â€œI realize you don’t know me well and that I just showed up out of nowhere and turned your life upside down. But if there’s one thing I can promise you, it’s that despite my social-worker lie, I’m a man of my word. If I make you a promise, you can believe in me.” His voice grew low and husky.
    â€œAnd?” she asked.
    â€œAnd I promise to keep my end of the deal.” Those deep brown eyes met hers, warm and compelling. Sexy and real.
    She had to be a fool—because she believed him. “I have a meeting tomorrow morning so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t show up here until after noon.”
    He nodded. “I can do that.”
    She had one more question before she walked him to the door. “What do you do that you can take time off so easily and hang around Ocean Isle until this gets resolved?”
    â€œI’m a lawyer.”
    Swell, she thought, but she’d had to ask. “Family practice, I take it?”
    He shook his head. “I might have conformed better than my sister, but there are still things I do my own way.” In his gaze, she thought she saw a hint of mischief. A sexual warning of sorts.
    But then she reminded herself that this was Mr. Conservative and she had to be mistaken. Still, she couldn’t help but think of him doing things to her his own way.
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind,” she heard herself say before pulling